“…Father, bforgive them; for they know not what cthey do…” (Luke 23:34) How can someone be so forgiving? This was a kind of question that began to occupy my mind last April 2010, when I first received visits from the sister missionaries, and things began to make sense to me.
My name is Luis H. Berton, and I didn’t believe in God.
I didn’t know either how much I needed God in my life. At the time, I was learning to live with physical pain. My pain started one day, long before the sister missionaries came to visit my house. One day suddenly, I suffered an injury to my left hand at work, which put me at risk of losing my ability to use it in the future. I couldn’t get proper medical attention, and learning to live with constant pain, took all my energy away. I also didn’t know things would turn even worse for me, when my working hours were going to begin to be cut drastically. I was not needed at work anymore.
All this time I had thought all that I needed in this life, was to rely on myself, and I would be fine, but as I began to realize the significance that God can bring into my life, I gradually gained my faith in God. My faith led me to read the scriptures. As I began to understand the sacrifice that God’s only begotten son Jesus Christ had done for all of us, I agree to be baptized, and I was confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints last year.
My baptism was a happy time for me, because I discovered that God had always been a part of my life. This has brought a change in me. Although I didn’t notice a change in my life until people pointed it out to me; like when at a particular troubled time at work, a co-worker snapped at me saying “why are you so happy?”I noticed I had become more content, more able to deal with my problems. I believe it was because I rely on God now, and as I try to do my best every time, I have become aware that there are some things I cannot change, so I leave them up to God. Before I had to do it all by myself. Now I know Christ helps me carry my burden.
I gradually noticed also, the joy I feel understanding the readings in the scriptures. I read the scriptures to strengthen my belief, and I continue to try to understand Christ’ sacrifice for us. In third Nephi chapter 11:11 Christ reminds us of his sacrifice for us:
“And behold, I am the alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter bcup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ctaking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the dwill of the Father in all things from the beginning.”
I can now enjoy the presence of God in my life, and I don’t feel that I have to carry every problem by myself anymore. I have now become spiritually stronger, and I feel comforted all the time; so much, that it has allowed me to overcome my adversities at work. By relying on God throughout my day, many positive changes have occurred. My hours at work are more stable, I’m beginning to use my hand more, my workload is manageable now, and I am allowed time to attend Sacrament Meetings on Sundays, our Sabbath day.
I have also become aware of little coincidences that began to occur with relative frequency, that tend to make my life easier, like when things begin to fall into place, with not so much effort as before. Thanks to the patience and perseverance of the sister missionaries that helped me find my answers, I am able to enjoy my little blessings, and I found a calm state in the middle of my daily straggle.
I want others to find their answers too. I want to help our community strengthen their faith, and I want to fulfill my calling to bring back to the church, members that have let themselves stand apart in this trying times.
Now every day, I’m happy to witness, the example that fellow church members show me, when they follow Christ’s teachings; not because they have too, but because they want to. I hope someday to be an example to others too. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Luis H Berton
4/11/2011
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